SB 838: City or county general plan: groundwater sustainability plan: groundwater management plan.

Existing law requires, before the adoption or any substantial amendment of a city or countys general plan, the planning agency to review and consider, among other things, an adoption of, or update to, a groundwater sustainability plan, or ground water management plan, or groundwater management court order, judgment, or decree.

This bill would revise that requirement to require the planning agency to review and consider, among other things, a groundwater sustainability plan, groundwater management plan, or an alternative adopted or updated pursuant to specified groundwater management laws, or groundwater management court order, judgment, or decree. By imposing a new duty on a city or county, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.